Support net



Feb. 23, 1965 s. GULLEN 3,170,611

SUPPORT NET Filed May '11. 1964 2 sheets-sheet 1 (0 mix,

V \i w INVENTOR.

LLOYD S. GULLEN Feb. 23, 1965 L. s. GULLEN SUPPORT NET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1964 I INVENTOR.

LLOYD S. GULLEN United States Patent 3,170,611 SUPPORT NET Lloyd S. Gullen, 33494 Alta Loma, Farmington, Mich, assignor of one-third to Annie A. Gullen, Farmington, Mich., and one-third to Beulah Barker, Beltsville, Md.

Filed May 11, 1964, Ser. No. 366,356

7 Claims. (Cl. 22442.1)

This invention relates generally to flexible nets and is specifically directed to improvements in such nets as may be primarily utilized for support purposes.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved net of a predetermined width and an indeterminate length which may be dispensed from a roll and sold by the yard for supporting articles in different manners.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a simple net of flexible strands crossing each other at regular, recurring intervals with utilization loops being provided at each strand crossing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a generally vertically extending planar support of net material wherein the net is provided with a plurality of outwardly directed loops for supporting therefrom a plurality of articles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hold down support in the form of a net adapted to encase cargo and be combined with the luggage rack of a vehicle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments and details of construction of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken plan view of the net forming the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view of a section of the netting of FIGURE I laid across the luggage rack of a vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the net of FIGURE 3 wrapped about a cargo and secured to the luggage rack to hold down the cargo to the vehicle roof, and

FIGURE 5 is a view of a section of netting as in FIGURE 1 adapted to form a generally planar vertical support.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the net shown generally at is constructed of a series of longitudinal strands 11 and a series of transverse strands 12 of any suitable material such as nylon. The strands are interconnected at the crossing points in any suitable manner as by a binding twine or wire 13 illustrated in FIGURE 2. The transverse strand 12 are looped equally at each crossing point to provide a plurality of loops '14. It is preferable that such loops be integral with one series of strands or the other. It is obvious, however, that for certain purposes the loop could be separately formed and attached to the crossing points, and that all such crossing points need not be provided with loops. It is further obvious that the net 10 may include crossing strands which are not at right angles to each other.

Furthermore, it is most desirable, although not essential, that the loops 14 all depend or extend to one sid of the generally planar surface of the net 10 as formed by the strands. The transverse strands 12 are provided at either end terminus with loops 15 and 16 for attachment in various ways to other items according to use.

In FIGURE 5 a net 17, made as in FIGURE 1, is Stretched into a planar surface between a pair of floor to ceiling upright posts 18 and 19. The posts 18 and 19 are threaded through the loops 15 and 16 of the transverse strands 12 of the net. When thus erected, it will be obvious that a plurality of articles may be selectively 3,170,611 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 "ice displayed on the net 17 by merely attaching to certain of the loops 14. For example, the type of display may be a substitute. for a pegboard merchandise display. Another use of the net 17 is to act as a support for designs for interior decorating. In this type of. display, if the net 17 is to be used flushed against a wall, then all the loops 14 should be to one side of planar surface formed by the strands. If the use is to be as a room divider, for example, then the loops should be extended outwardly from either side of the net, at alternate crossing points, for example, so that articles may be hung or displayed conveniently from both sides of the net.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 3, a net 20 formed as in FIGURE 1, as illustrated in combination with a vehicle luggage rack 21 acting therewith as a hold down support for a cargo 22. A suitable length of net 20 is simply laid across the rectangularly formed rack 21 which includes the usual longitudinal bars 23 and interconnected transverse bars 24. The cargo 22, which is generally of irregular shape, such as camping equipment wrapped in a tarpaulin, is placed on the net 20 within the confines of the bars 23 and 24. The end 25 of the net is then wrapped over the cargo 22 and is drawn down tightly thereon until a row 26 of loops 14 becomes aligned with another row 27. A suitable circular rod 28 is then threaded through the aligned loops and will securely tie the net 20 about the cargo in the transverse direction. The longitudinal ends 29 and 30 of the net 20 are then in part looped about the rack bars 24, a draw string 31 is passed through the terminus loops 15 and 16 of the net 20, and is then pulled tightly and tied as at 32. Additional securing straps may be used to attach certain of the net loops or the rod 28 to the longitudinal rack bars 23. The net 20 thus combined with th rack 21 acts to hold down the cargo in a secure supported manner at a multiplicity of points. In certain cases where the net is to be solely used for cargo tie down support purposes, it may be desirable that the net strands be of resilient material to render the net more adaptable to irregularly shaped objects.

It will be understood that many modifications and variations in the various components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention and applicant intends to be limited only to a liberal interpretation of the specification and claims.

Having thusdescribed the details of the invention, what is claimed as new and novel and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An article support comprising a first series of parallel flexible strands running in one direction, a second series of parallel flexible strands running in a second direction at an angle to said first series of strands to define thereby a plurality of strand crossing points, means to connect said strands at each crossing point to define a net, and a loop of strand material integrally formed from one of said series of strands at a plurality of said crossing points.

2. A cargo tie-down support comprising a flexible net formed of crossed strands of material with a strand loop being provided at each crossing of said strands and at the claim 2 in combination is detachably secured to the luggage rack.

5. A cargo tie-down support comprising a rectangular flexible net formed of crossed strands of material adapted to be wrapped about a cargo, said net being provided with a strand 100p ateach crossing of said strands and at the l 7. The invention accordingsto' claim wherein th net terminus of each strand about the periphery of the net is detachably secured to the luggage rack.

' alignedwith each other after being wrapped about said to thereby define a plurality of rows of loops, a rigid shaft for detachably connecting a pair of rows of loops References Cited y the Examiner r cargo along one side of the cargo, and draw string means UNITED STATES T associated with the terminus loops of the net positioned 2,383,095 8/45 Wallace 43--7 X transversely ofthe shaft connected loops, whereby to 2,925;l41' 2/60 Frieder 182-196 secure the cargo within the net. V g I t 6. The'invention-according to claim 5 in combination HUGO O- SCHULZ, Primary Examme r. with a vehicle luggage rack. a 

1. AN ARTICLE SUPPORT COMPRISING A FIRST SERIES OF PARALLEL FLEXIBLE STRANDS RUNNING IN ONE DIRECTION, A SECOND SERIES OF PARALLEL FLEXIBLE STRANDS RUNNING IN A SECOND DIRECTION AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FIRST SERIES OF STRANDS TO DEFINE THEREBY A PLURALITY OF STRAND CROSSING POINTS, MEANS TO CONNECT SAID STRANDS AT EACH CROSSING POINT TO DEFINE A NET, AND A LOOP OF STRAND MATERIAL INTEGRALLY FORMED FROM ONE OF SAID SERIES OF STRANDS AT A PLURALITY OF SAID CROSSING POINTS. 